Dual monitor won't work - Video card is Nvidia Quadro FX 540

[conradinsf]

Hi all,

I am having issues with my dual monitor setup with Kubuntu. I just completed a dual-boot system with XP Pro and Kubuntu (thanks to all the contriboters, especially devils_casper). The video card is NVIDIA QUADRA FX 540 with a dual monitor setup (single desktop) with XP Pro, and it works fine.

When I try to boot into Kubuntu, my main monitor remains blank and the other monitor gives an error message (I can't remember what it is now, but I will restart as soon as possible and post it later). If I turn the second monitor off, the main monitor still does not work. The only way I can get a functional monitor is to unplug the video cable from the video card. That's how I am able to boot up Kubuntu.

I need help! I don't want to have to unplug/replug a monitor whenever I switch OS's. I shouldn't have to, right?!

The xorg.conf file contents are pasted below:

# /etc/X11/xorg.conf (xorg X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using
# values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the xorg.conf(5) manual page.
# (Type "man xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)
#
# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg
# package.
#
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following command:
# sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

Section "Files"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/misc"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/cyrillic"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi/:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi/:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/Type1"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi"
# path to defoma fonts
FontPath "/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType"
EndSection

Section "Module"
Load "i2c"
Load "bitmap"
Load "ddc"
Load "extmod"
Load "freetype"
Load "int10"
Load "vbe"
load "glx"
load "GLcore"
load "v4l"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
Driver "kbd"
option "CoreKeyboard"
option "XkbRules" "xorg"
option "XkbModel" "pc105"
option "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Configured Mouse"
Driver "mouse"
option "CorePointer"
option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
option "Protocol" "ImPS/2"
option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
option "Emulate3Buttons" "true"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Driver "wacom"
Identifier "stylus"
option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
option "Type" "stylus"
option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4"# Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Driver "wacom"
Identifier "eraser"
option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
option "Type" "eraser"
option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4"# Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Driver "wacom"
Identifier "cursor"
option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
option "Type" "cursor"
option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4"# Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "Device"
identifier "nVidia Corporation NV43GL [Quadro FX 540]"
boardname "nv"
busid "PCI:5:0:0"
driver "nv"
screen 0
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
identifier "Generic Monitor"
vendorname "Dell"
modelname "Dell 1905FP (Digital)"
HorizSync 30.0-81.0
VertRefresh 56.0-76.0
modeline "640x480@60" 25.2 640 656 752 800 480 490 492 525 -vsync -hsync
modeline "640x480@72" 31.5 640 664 704 832 480 489 491 520 -vsync -hsync
modeline "640x480@75" 31.5 640 656 720 840 480 481 484 500 -vsync -hsync
modeline "800x600@56" 36.0 800 824 896 1024 600 601 603 625 +hsync +vsync
modeline "800x600@72" 50.0 800 856 976 1040 600 637 643 666 +hsync +vsync
modeline "800x600@75" 49.5 800 816 896 1056 600 601 604 625 +hsync +vsync
modeline "800x600@60" 40.0 800 840 968 1056 600 601 605 628 +hsync +vsync
modeline "832x624@75" 57.284 832 864 928 1152 624 625 628 667 -vsync -hsync
modeline "1024x768@75" 78.8 1024 1040 1136 1312 768 769 772 800 +hsync +vsync
modeline "1024x768@70" 75.0 1024 1048 1184 1328 768 771 777 806 -vsync -hsync
modeline "1024x768@60" 65.0 1024 1048 1184 1344 768 771 777 806 -vsync -hsync
modeline "1152x864@75" 108.0 1152 1216 1344 1600 864 865 868 900 +hsync +vsync
modeline "1280x1024@75" 135.0 1280 1296 1440 1688 1024 1025 1028 1066 +hsync +vsync
modeline "1280x960@60" 102.1 1280 1360 1496 1712 960 961 964 994 -hsync +vsync
modeline "1280x1024@60" 108.0 1280 1328 1440 1688 1024 1025 1028 1066 +hsync +vsync
modeline "1280x960@75" 129.86 1280 1368 1504 1728 960 961 964 1002 -hsync +vsync
modeline "1400x1050@60" 122.61 1400 1488 1640 1880 1050 1051 1054 1087 -hsync +vsync
modeline "1600x1200@65" 175.5 1600 1664 1856 2160 1200 1201 1204 1250 +hsync +vsync
modeline "1600x1200@60" 162.0 1600 1664 1856 2160 1200 1201 1204 1250 +hsync +vsync
gamma 1.0
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Device "nVidia Corporation NV43GL [Quadro FX 540]"
Monitor "Generic Monitor"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
depth 24
modes "1280x1024@60" "1280x960@75" "1280x960@60" "1400x1050@60" "1280x1024@75" "1600x1200@65" "1152x864@75" "1600x1200@60" "1024x768@60" "1024x768@70" "1024x768@75" "832x624@75" "800x600@60" "800x600@75" "800x600@72" "800x600@56" "640x480@75" "640x480@72" "640x480@60"
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Default Layout"
screen 0 "Default Screen" 0 0
InputDevice "Generic Keyboard"
InputDevice "Configured Mouse"
InputDevice "stylus" "SendCoreEvents"
InputDevice "cursor" "SendCoreEvents"
InputDevice "eraser" "SendCoreEvents"
EndSection

Section "DRI"
Mode 0666
EndSection
Section "device" #
identifier "device1"
boardname "nv"
busid "PCI:5:0:0"
driver "nv"
screen 1
EndSection
Section "screen" #
identifier "screen1"
device "device1"
defaultdepth 24
monitor "monitor1"
SubSection "Display"
depth 24
modes "640x480@60" "640x480@72" "640x480@75" "800x600@56" "800x600@72" "800x600@75" "800x600@60" "832x624@75" "1024x768@75" "1024x768@70" "1024x768@60" "1152x864@75" "1280x1024@75" "1280x960@60" "1280x1024@60" "1280x960@75" "1400x1050@60" "1600x1200@65" "1600x1200@60"
EndSubSection
EndSection
Section "monitor" #
identifier "monitor1"
vendorname "Dell"
modelname "Dell 1905FP (Analog)"
HorizSync 30.0-81.0
VertRefresh 56.0-76.0
modeline "640x480@60" 25.2 640 656 752 800 480 490 492 525 -vsync -hsync
modeline "640x480@72" 31.5 640 664 704 832 480 489 491 520 -vsync -hsync
modeline "640x480@75" 31.5 640 656 720 840 480 481 484 500 -vsync -hsync
modeline "800x600@56" 36.0 800 824 896 1024 600 601 603 625 +hsync +vsync
modeline "800x600@72" 50.0 800 856 976 1040 600 637 643 666 +hsync +vsync
modeline "800x600@75" 49.5 800 816 896 1056 600 601 604 625 +hsync +vsync
modeline "800x600@60" 40.0 800 840 968 1056 600 601 605 628 +hsync +vsync
modeline "832x624@75" 57.284 832 864 928 1152 624 625 628 667 -vsync -hsync
modeline "1024x768@75" 78.8 1024 1040 1136 1312 768 769 772 800 +hsync +vsync
modeline "1024x768@70" 75.0 1024 1048 1184 1328 768 771 777 806 -vsync -hsync
modeline "1024x768@60" 65.0 1024 1048 1184 1344 768 771 777 806 -vsync -hsync
modeline "1152x864@75" 108.0 1152 1216 1344 1600 864 865 868 900 +hsync +vsync
modeline "1280x1024@75" 135.0 1280 1296 1440 1688 1024 1025 1028 1066 +hsync +vsync
modeline "1280x960@60" 102.1 1280 1360 1496 1712 960 961 964 994 -hsync +vsync
modeline "1280x1024@60" 108.0 1280 1328 1440 1688 1024 1025 1028 1066 +hsync +vsync
modeline "1280x960@75" 129.86 1280 1368 1504 1728 960 961 964 1002 -hsync +vsync
modeline "1400x1050@60" 122.61 1400 1488 1640 1880 1050 1051 1054 1087 -hsync +vsync
modeline "1600x1200@65" 175.5 1600 1664 1856 2160 1200 1201 1204 1250 +hsync +vsync
modeline "1600x1200@60" 162.0 1600 1664 1856 2160 1200 1201 1204 1250 +hsync +vsync
gamma 1.0
EndSection
Section "ServerFlags"
EndSection

[conradinsf]

Hi all,

In case anyone would like to help me with this, but needs my computer specs, I will post it in a brief manner. If you need more detail, just let me know.

Dell Precision 670 workstation
Dual Processors, 2.8 GHz Intel Xeon (hypertheading on)
4Gb Memory
SATA0 drive (Ubuntu)
SATA1 drive (XP Pro)
NVIDIA Quadro FX 540 Graphics Card
Dual monitor - both are Dell 1905FP monitors (one digital in, one analog in); this is just the nature of the video card outs

Thanks again.

[coopstah13]

if you install the proprietary nvidia driver they have a GUI for configuring dual monitor setup thats much easier to use than manually editing the xorg.conf file. you can get it on nvidia website. also you need to use this driver if you want hardware opengl support anyway.

[conradinsf]

if you install the proprietary nvidia driver they have a GUI for configuring dual monitor setup thats much easier to use than manually editing the xorg.conf file. you can get it on nvidia website. also you need to use this driver if you want hardware opengl support anyway.

coopstah13. thanks for the suggestion. I am such a newbie that i don't even know how to install the nvidia driver that i downloaded. I logged in su, as root, tried to runlevel 3 (to disable X server), tried ctrl+alt+f3, etc. no success. kept telling me I was still running x server. so, no luck with the proprietary nvidia driver.

However, I was successful in setting up the dual monitor another way. I ran into a tool which apparently can run a program to change NVIDIA VC settings. This was a new tool that was included with Ubuntu 7.10, in response to Fedora's success with a dual-monitor configuration. Now, I am happy with my dual-monitor setup. And best of all, it already came with Ubuntu 7.10, so no new updates, drivers, or apps!